Monster Hunter Stories: A Review & Retrospective

Check out the livestream at / sdshepard​
First time doing a review like this. I feel like I could easily spend a week+ going into every little detail on the game...but I think we'll wait for Stories 2 to do that at this point!

[@ryoxsinfar1615]

The mom death is certainly different from pokemon, but it's assumed Ash's mom gets smashed in a different way

[@deschhunter7347]

B R U H

[@SDShepard]

lol wth

[@ashenphoenix6869]

I really enjoyed stories 1. But im Loving what Stories 2 is showing so far

[@AldricSaint]

I love this game, my son when he was 2 loved this game, everyone I've ever known who's played this has loved it, stories is definitely a lot better then people give it credit for

[@Ohalloranlucas3]

As soon I play this game I was like pokemon your not favorite game any more

[@seanaugust]

I got a copy after you mentioned it a few days ago. Seems like a chill game to play when I don't want to get out of bed.

[@AxeMain]

I just got a figure from this game. It's a Barioth named Frostfang, but it's not a Frostfang Barioth. I'm quite upset

[@SDShepard]

Actually kinda funny how that worked out lol

[@lloyd8367]

kinda sucks, kinda funny lol

[@TheDreadlagg]

Well yeah Frostfang doesn’t exist when stories came out, i wonder if we gonna see those 2 again in Stories2

[@nuke2099]

I hope they make the "breeding" in Stories 2 not a chore. Already had enough of that in Pokemon and even though they made it easier in Sword and Shield it's still mostly a second job. Before Rise released I was more hype for Stories 2 tbh.

[@legendarytat8278]

Don't really like all the “monster tamer” genre jumping onto the breeding bandwagon. There has to be a better mechanic that can replace it.

[@taurelith4867]

@@legendarytat8278 well in stories it's very different, i actually like it, but it could be less grindy, at least in the lategame

[@legendarytat8278]

@@taurelith4867 There's no breeding mechanic in MHS1, only rite of Kinship which transfer genes.

[@taurelith4867]

@@legendarytat8278 yes i have played the game, i have 3 6 combo monsties. from your comment it looked like you were comparing monstie genes to breeding in pokemon

[@legendarytat8278]

@@taurelith4867 Well I wasn't, so I hope there isn't any confusion here

[@1oskary2]

wow you actually did a review of Stories, Im suprised I really liked Stories I even played it all the way trough twice, one on the 3ds and the other one on my phone, I just wished we got the last update that added a lot of new monsties and an actual end game. Great video nonetheless this makes me even more excited for Stories 2! keep it up Shep PD: Navirou sucks he never grew up on me

[@ttank0_0]

I appreciate the review style format, seems like a lot of work!

[@SDShepard]

The people who do those like...30 minute long video essays? With like 10 cuts per minute? Those guys are insane.

[@totozhu4543]

Honestly, I wanted a game where you raised creatures and fought with them, and this was the game that I thought was perfect for me. Funny thing is, this was also my intro to the MH series. After getting to world, I'm hopping the add MHW monsters to the sequel. Riding a safijiva would be epic

[@fireflamegamer8321]

It’s crazy how I just started watching your monster hunter stories let’s play 😂

[@legendarytat8278]

There's a monster hunter stories let's play?

[@fireflamegamer8321]

@@legendarytat8278 yeah Shep played it

[@donteatglass3472]

Cheval means horse in French

[@SDShepard]

Now I’m imagining a horse riding a monster. Thanks.

[@donteatglass3472]

@@SDShepard You're very welcome

[@UFOToaster]

Holy shit,i've never been so early to a video before. I don't really know how to feel about Stories 2,i might buy it if they'll have some cool monsters like Astalos,Valstrax or Garuga,but from first glance it's not really my cup of tea especially since it's mainly story driven and the gameplay is just...Pokemon MH

[@SDShepard]

I’d argue it’s much deeper than Pokemon MH, but to be fair, Pokemon can be pretty deep as well. Assume everything up through World (and some Rise monsters) will be in the game.

[@michaelgil990]

It's still better than modern pokemon games and the first Stories was fantastic and Stories 2 with the amount of content already found seems to be even bigger than the first so it's worth it.

[@legendarytat8278]

There's mizu, they can't not put in the fated four. And when there's the fated four there's valstrax. And based on that, I can reasonably expect that they won't hesitate to add really cool monsters, within reason.

[@UFOToaster]

@@SDShepard I kind of...phrased my opinion wrong there. The combat systems looks complex don't get me wrong and i'm not saying that Pokemon or the games alike are easy or anything. It's just these type of games are not really my thing. I'm a caveman,give me some simple controls and lemme go ham on a big ass monster,i've never been that good at strategy or any game that requieres any sort of planning. Just wanna have some fun with mindless button mashing,that's why i main SnS xD

[@SDShepard]

I hear it. If you really wanted to explore the story and just see the story the game gives you Ratha pretty early and that can more or less solo the game for you lol.

[@GamersInHellOnYt]

put it at 1.75 speed for the talking to be normal. (=o=;;)

[@OLDean]

I'm pre-empting stream Shep by coming here and calling you a Navirou Apologist before he sends me here.

[@SDShepard]

Yeah

[@fargogh8122]

Navirou’s doughnut obsession is one we all share because doughnuts are great.

[@procow2274]

Especially jelly filled donuts 🍙

[@fargogh8122]

@@procow2274 you get it 🍩

[@biyanshandy8425]

Navirou's head looks like a meat bun with caramel pudding color accent

[@lloyd8367]

Would indeed be nice to have this one on the switch

[@SDShepard]

For me it's not just being able to play it on a better device, just that having a "definitive" edition on an HD capable console will help so much for game preservation.

[@lloyd8367]

@@SDShepard yeah that's true, one can hope but I'm not too optimistic on that front.

[@FakeHeroFang]

I'd love a Switch port just to have both games on one platform. Also so I can play without losing a bunch of the QTE things because my 3ds right bumper is busted lol

[@phrysma]

Just passing by to say that is really nice to hear you voice Shep! I'm away from twitch to avoid any kind of spoillers from Rise, so i'm not watching you until i can play it, on pc; cause i dont have a switch T___T. Great video! All the best for you!

[@SDShepard]

lol the one video you could watch! Hope to see you back soon

[@phrysma]

Hope to be back soon too

[@ratkon]

Damn, i played this game for over 10h and never realized there were weapon combos.

[@SDShepard]

They squeeze them into a hunter note section. Honestly it should have an indicator on screen, you have to remember and it can be easy to lose track.

[@suntzu7727]

Does anyone have any suggestions for games that are similar to this? With a big world and lot of things to explore?

[@SDShepard]

It's definintely super unique! If you're a fan of RPGs and haven't checked out Dragon Quest XI, you really should. One of the best modern RPG's released in the last 5 years, and instantly a classic in my mind. I just completed it a couple months ago and loved it the whole way. Only advice is if you're good at RPGs to at least turn on harder monsters, it gets kinda easy otherwise!

[@suntzu7727]

@@SDShepard Thanks for the suggestion! I will check it out...

[@JacoryG]

Playing it blind, knew almost nothing about it and I'm hooked, it's such a comfy game. Agreed with the combat being deceptively simple at 1st. I'm only about 6 hrs in so I haven't unlocked everything (armor crafting and freaking gene splicing lmao) but there's still a suprising amount of things that attribute to the battle system like monstie skills, kinship meter mechanic, armor/weapon skills, and the clever use of classic mon hun items like binoculars, whetstones, demon drugs ect ect. and the only complaints I have are pretty small. when you have the option to break parts like a kut ku head it doesn't actually show the kut ku's head broke on his model. I also feel like they spoil a bit too many monsters in the tutorial pictures but those are reaaaalllly minor complaints. basically the game is a fkin steal for 5$ it's so good and after today's presentation mhs 2 is lookin like an absolute banger I'm so excited.

[@solomon9655]

I wish I liked this game more, a lot of it clicked for me. I played the demo back in the day and never really cared for the combat system. I would have greatly preferred just a straightforward move list like Pokémon or any other RPG since there’s a lot of unique stuff to love about the game anyways. I fell out of love with Pokémon a few years ago but I always enjoyed how deep the combat could get. I think Stories has the potential to be “Pokémon but better” but I won’t be interested until the combat grabs me. I hope Stories 2 addresses this. (Not trying to compare to Pokémon TOO much but Stories is 100% competing in the same market so it feels necessary)

[@SDShepard]

To me the patterns of speed/power/technique felt really cool to try and learn and keep up with. You sometimes need to plan your turns out 3 or 4 ahead, which is a really cool feeling.

[@rubsal]

I remember playing the demo for hours on 3DS

[@kz_frost4074]

Will monster hunter 2 stories be on the phone ?

[@SDShepard]

Phone and steam only (for now)

[@Xarr23]

I wish there was a Switch port.

[@hawkkiy]

Dude I just binge watched your playthrough of Stories and man that soundclip you played when someone got timed out because of spoilers made me laugh so hard I almost pooped myself. 😅 Everybody who is interested in Stories (2) should check it out: kzbin.info/aero/PL2r5__WOYZ6KHMqNwHopuNpPZB3-s1D-a Thanks for the awesome streams and videos Shep. 👍

[@SDShepard]

lol I'm glad you enjoy it

[@fireflamegamer8321]

They need to spread the word more for stories 2 they failed a little on that for stories 1

[@SDShepard]

Yeah, definitely didn’t have enough marketing or outreach to get people on board.

[@bearslikeyou]

navirou haters going to the list >:3

[@ryanjohnson1124]

So, Navirou is so annoying that it’s likable.

[@SDShepard]

It wraps around to likeable in a way yeah lol

[@Karnage420698238]

stories biggest draw back form me and what caused me to really dislike it was its combat system i hope for stories 2 it has a normal turn based system and none of that random rock paper scissors crap if it does ill have to skip it plus im still pissed they screwed over their non japanese playerbase with stories by not releasing "that" patch so theyre gonna have to bring out a nearly perfect game for me to even think of getting stories 2 and the first step in that is scrapping the rock paper scissors crap system for a more traditional combat system and not having monsties and equips locked behind multiplayer

[@FakeHeroFang]

Yeah, it seems like they just gave up on the Western release at some point. It was really unfortunate, but it looks like they actually want to advertise Stories 2 so hopefully it will be different this time around.

[@legendarytat8278]

Nah, the rock paper scissors system is a staple in this game and without it, it wouldn't be Monster Hunter Stories.

[@legendarytat8278]

It's far from random. They have attack patterns that you can exploit. That's the name of the game. If you play it for longer, it might click for you.

[@Karnage420698238]

@@legendarytat8278 oh i 100% it got all my favorite monsties with damn near perfect genes but that doesnt mean i enjoyed it it felt extremely random to me but maybe that was just me all i know is i didnt really get any enjoyment out of the combat system only reason i stuck with it was because i needed my trainer fix and no main series pokemon game has been worth my time since emerald and i had already played the hell out of dream drop distance and all the 3ds SMT games and stories was really the only thing left lol